U.S. patent application number 13/761389 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-15 for radio control transmitter.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUTABA CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Futaba Corporation. Invention is credited to Masahiro TANAKA.
Application Number | 20130207828 13/761389 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48868401 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130207828 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TANAKA; Masahiro |
August 15, 2013 |
RADIO CONTROL TRANSMITTER
Abstract
A transmitter for controlling a target to be controlled having a
motor, the transmitter includes: a start-up manipulation member to
control starting and stopping of the motor; a rotational speed
control manipulation member to control a rotational speed of the
motor according to an operation amount; a control unit to generate
the steering signal such that the motor is rotated according to the
operation amount of the rotational speed control manipulation
member when the operation amount of the rotational speed control
manipulation member is equal to or greater than a preset start
position while the start-up manipulation member is in a start-up
state; and a transmitting unit to transmit the steering signal.
Inventors: |
TANAKA; Masahiro;
(Mobara-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Futaba Corporation; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
FUTABA CORPORATION
Mobara-shi, Chiba-ken
JP
|
Family ID: |
48868401 |
Appl. No.: |
13/761389 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
341/176 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08C 19/00 20130101;
A63H 30/04 20130101; G08C 17/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
341/176 |
International
Class: |
G08C 19/00 20060101
G08C019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2012 |
JP |
2012-027087 |
Claims
1. A transmitter for controlling a target to be controlled having a
motor as a power unit by transmitting a steering signal, the
transmitter comprising: a start-up manipulation member to control
starting and stopping of the motor; a rotational speed control
manipulation member to control a rotational speed of the motor
according to an operation amount thereof; a storage unit to store a
start position that is an operation amount of the rotational speed
control manipulation member at which the motor starts to rotate; a
control unit to generate the steering signal such that the motor is
rotated according to the operation amount of the rotational speed
control manipulation member when the operation amount of the
rotational speed control manipulation member is equal to or greater
than the start position while the start-up manipulation member is
in a start-up state; and a transmitting unit to transmit the
steering signal.
2. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the control unit generates
the steering signal such that the motor is rotated at a low
rotational speed without being stopped even if the operation amount
of the rotational speed control manipulation member is less than
the start position while the motor is rotating.
3. The transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a setting unit to
set the start position.
4. The transmitter of claim 2, further comprising a setting unit to
set the start position.
5. The transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a rotational
speed adjustment manipulation member which can set the rotational
speed of the motor being rotated at a low rotational speed.
6. The transmitter of claim 2, further comprising a rotational
speed adjustment manipulation member which can set the rotational
speed of the motor being rotated at a low rotational speed.
7. The transmitter of claim 3, further comprising a rotational
speed adjustment manipulation member which can set the rotational
speed of the motor being rotated at a low rotational speed.
8. The transmitter of claim 4, further comprising a rotational
speed adjustment manipulation member which can set the rotational
speed of the motor being rotated at a low rotational speed.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2012-027087 filed on Feb. 10, 2012, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a transmitter which
performs a radio control of a model, and more particularly to a
radio control transmitter which performs a drive control of a motor
that is a power unit of a model.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A radio control system uses radio waves to remotely control
a target to be controlled (Hereinafter, referred to as a control
target) at a remote location. In this radio control system, an
operator controls, with a transmitter, the control target such as a
model airplane, a model helicopter, a model car, or the like. The
system has been used in hobby applications to compete in the field
of control technology in regards to speed and acrobatics, or in
applications of industrial equipment to control a control target
such as a lawn mower or a crane.
[0004] The transmitter of the radio control system is a device for
controlling a control target, and includes a transmitting unit
which transmits a steering signal corresponding to the operation of
the operator.
[0005] The control target includes a receiving unit which receives
the steering signal, and the receiving unit sends a control signal
based on the steering signal. The control signal controls a power
unit such as a motor or an engine, and a drive control device such
as a servo device which performs a drive control of each key or
throttle of the engine, and a gyro device which maintains the
stability of an aircraft.
[0006] Regarding the control of the servo device, for example,
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2000-024334 discloses a
technology in which an adjustment value is changed at a switching
point that has been arbitrarily set, the adjustment value for
determining a relationship between the operation amount of a
manipulation member provided in the transmitter and the operation
amount of the servo device.
[0007] Further, regarding the control of the engine that has been
conventionally used in the power unit, for example, Japanese
Utility Model Registration No. 3079600 discloses a technology in
which the rotational speed of the engine is controlled using a
manipulation lever, a switch and the like provided in the
transmitter. Particularly, in this technology, the rotational speed
of the engine promptly returns to an idling value that has been
initially set when the switch is turned to ON after the engine has
been stopped.
[0008] Recently, in the field of the radio control system for hobby
applications, a motor is often used as a power unit in a control
target such as a model airplane or a model glider. The model
airplane of the conventional radio control system usually uses an
engine as a power unit, and the control method thereof is different
from that of the motor.
[0009] For example, in a conventional control target of using an
engine as a power unit, since restarting of the engine causes loss
of fuel or troublesome operations after the engine is stopped, it
is set to be in an idling state where the engine performs a minimum
rotation when a lever for controlling the engine makes contact with
one end of a movable range.
[0010] Alternatively, in the airplane or glider using a motor as a
power unit, one arbitrary manipulation member set by the operator
is used to control the motor. When using a lever as the
manipulation member, it is set such that the rotation of the motor
is stopped when the lever makes contact with one end of its movable
range, and the rotation of the motor is maximized when the lever is
brought into contact with the other end thereof.
[0011] As described above, when the lever is operated to be in
contact with one end of the movable range, the rotation of the
motor serving as a power unit is stopped. Accordingly, the rotation
of a propeller, which is provided in the control target, is stopped
to change a load associated with the control target. Thus, the
operation feels different from that of a control target using the
engine as the power unit.
[0012] Further, in order to maintain the motor at a low rotational
speed as in the idling state of the engine, the operator needs to
maintain the manipulation member at an operation amount at which
the rotational speed of the motor is suitable, which is difficult
to require a very delicate operation.
[0013] Even in the case of using the motor as the power unit, there
has been a demand for a control that can be achieved by the same
operation (e.g., the control of the low rotational speed) as the
control target using the engine as the power unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In view of the above, the present invention provides a
transmitter which can implement a safe drive of a motor included in
a control device and reproduce an idling state of the motor by
associatively using a start-up manipulation member and a rotational
speed control manipulation member.
[0015] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a transmitter for controlling a target to be controlled
having a motor as a power unit by transmitting a steering signal,
the transmitter includes: a start-up manipulation member to control
starting and stopping of the motor; a rotational speed control
manipulation member to control a rotational speed of the motor
according to an operation amount thereof; a storage unit to store a
start position that is an operation amount of the rotational speed
control manipulation member at which the motor starts to rotate; a
control unit to generate the steering signal such that the motor is
rotated according to the operation amount of the rotational speed
control manipulation member when the operation amount of the
rotational speed control manipulation member is equal to or greater
than the start position while the start-up manipulation member is
in a start-up state; and a transmitting unit to transmit the
steering signal.
[0016] Further, the control unit may generate the steering signal
such that the motor is rotated at a low rotational speed without
being stopped even if the operation amount of the rotational speed
control manipulation member is less than the start position while
the motor is rotating.
[0017] The transmitter may further include a setting unit to set
the start position.
[0018] The transmitter may further include a rotational speed
adjustment manipulation member which can set the rotational speed
of the motor being rotated at a low rotational speed.
[0019] In the control of the motor serving as the power unit that
is included in the control target in a radio control system, a
manipulation member for controlling the starting and stopping of
the motor, and a manipulation member for controlling the rotational
speed of the motor are provided and the control is performed in
association with the manipulation members.
[0020] Further, in the rotational speed control manipulation member
for controlling the rotational speed of the motor, a start position
at which the motor starts to rotate is provided. Accordingly, even
if the start-up manipulation member goes from a stop state to a
start-up state, when the operation amount of the rotational speed
control manipulation member is less than the start position, the
motor is not rotated, and it is possible to prevent the motor from
being accidentally rotated.
[0021] Further, if the motor is rotating, even when the operation
amount of the rotational speed control manipulation member is less
than the start position, the motor continues to rotate at a low
rotational speed. Thus, the idling state can be reproduced, and the
control can be performed with the same operation feeling as in the
control target using an engine as the power unit.
[0022] In addition, by providing the setting unit, the start
position can be set arbitrarily by an operator. Further, by using
the rotational speed adjustment manipulation member, it is possible
to set the rotational speed of the motor being rotated at a low
rotational speed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of embodiments,
given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio control system in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a transmitter;
[0026] FIG. 3 is an example of the display unit of the transmitter
in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 is an example of the display unit which shows
settings of a rotational speed control manipulation member in
accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 5 is an example of the display unit showing a
relationship between the rotational speed of the motor and the
operation amount of the rotational speed control manipulation
member in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0029] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control of the motor
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings which form a
part hereof.
[0031] An embodiment of the present invention will be described
with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a
radio control system 1. FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a
transmitter 2.
[0032] The transmitter 2 is a device for controlling a control
target 3 such as a model airplane, a model glider, or the like. An
operator performs a drive control of the control target 3 by
operating a manipulation unit 4 and 4'. In the present invention,
the control target 3 is driven by a motor serving as a power unit
11.
[0033] The manipulation unit 4 and 4' includes manipulation members
such as levers and switches. Further, the operator can arbitrarily
designate a lever 4 or a switch 4' as a start-up manipulation
member 13 for start-up of the motor and a rotational speed control
manipulation member 14 for controlling the number of rotational
speed of the motor. In this embodiment, the rotational speed
control manipulation member 14 is preferably assigned to one of the
levers 4.
[0034] A setting unit 5 performs setting of the transmitter 2. As
the setting unit 5, a switch or a lever may be used in addition to
a touch sensor 5a shown in FIG. 2.
[0035] Trim switches 5b shown in FIG. 2 are provided in the
vicinity of the levers 4, and respectively correspond to the
movable directions (up, down, left and right) of the left and right
levers 4. The trim switches 5b are used as one component of the
setting unit 5.
[0036] The control unit 6 generates a steering signal for driving
the control target 3 according to the operation of the manipulation
unit 4 and 4'. Further, the control unit 6 alters the setting of
the transmitter 2 according to the details set by the setting unit
5. The control unit 6 includes a central processing unit (CPU) that
actually performs the processing.
[0037] A display unit 7 displays information of the control target
3, various setting data changed according to the operation of the
setting unit 5 and the like.
[0038] A storage unit 8 is a memory that stores various settings of
the transmitter 2.
[0039] The transmitting unit 9 is a transmission circuit for
transmitting a steering signal.
[0040] The receiving unit 10 of the control target 3 is a reception
circuit for receiving the steering signal transmitted from the
transmitting unit 9 of the transmitter 2. The receiving unit 10
demodulates the steering signal and outputs a control signal to the
power unit 11 or a drive control device 12 which is connected to
the receiving unit 10.
[0041] The power unit 11, which is the motor, supplies a power to
the control target 3. Further, a motor controller (not shown) is
provided between the receiving unit 10 and the motor.
[0042] The drive control device 12 is a servo device, gyro device,
or the like, which controls driving of each key of the control
target 3 or other parts. Although it has been described as a single
block in FIG. 1, a plurality of types of devices may be provided in
an appropriate number for each type depending on the control target
3.
[0043] A method of actually using the present invention will be
described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. 3 is an example of
the display unit 7 of the transmitter 2. The settings can be
changed by selecting a display of an item intended to be set by
using the setting unit 5. By configuring the settings as shown in
FIG. 3, the motor is controlled by associating the start-up
manipulation member 13 with the rotational speed control
manipulation member 14.
[0044] FIG. 4 is an example of the display unit 7 which shows the
settings of the rotational speed control manipulation member 14.
FIG. 5 is an example of the display unit 7 showing a relationship
between the rotational speed of the motor and the operation amount
of the rotational speed control manipulation member 14.
[0045] An `ACT` 20 shown in FIG. 3 represents the
validity/invalidity of a function of controlling the motor with a
plurality of manipulation members. In the case of FIG. 3, the
function of controlling the motor with a plurality of manipulation
members is set to be valid.
[0046] A `SW` 21 represents which manipulation member has been
assigned to the start-up manipulation member 13. For example, in
FIG. 3, a manipulation member `SG` is set as the start-up
manipulation member 13 when one of the manipulation members of the
manipulation unit 4 and 4' is assumed as `SG`.
[0047] A `START SW` 22 represents which manipulation member has
been assigned to the rotational speed control manipulation member
14. For example, in FIG. 3, a manipulation member `J2` is set as
the rotational speed control manipulation member 14 when one of the
manipulation members of the manipulation unit 4 and 4' is assumed
as `J2`.
[0048] A `MOTOR OFF` 23 represents the operation amount of the
start-up manipulation member 13 at which the motor stops the
rotation, and a line is displayed in a bar on the right side in
FIG. 3. The position of the bar and a value displayed in the `MOTOR
OFF` 23 correspond to the operation amount of the start-up
manipulation member 13 at which the rotation of the motor is
stopped.
[0049] A `TRIM` 24 indicates the presence or absence of a function
of enabling the value displayed in the `MOTOR OFF` 23 to be set by
one of the trim switches 5b.
[0050] Further, when a `CURVE` 25 is selected, a throttle curve
that is an adjustment value of the rotational speed of the motor
and the operation amount of the rotational speed control
manipulation member 14 is displayed in the display unit 7, as shown
in FIG. 5.
[0051] As displayed in the `SW` 21 and the `START SW` 22 of FIG. 3,
manipulation members can be arbitrarily assigned to the start-up
manipulation member 13 and the rotational speed control
manipulation member 14. However, when one of the levers 4 is
assigned to the rotational speed control manipulation member 14, it
is possible to adjust the operation amount of the rotational speed
control manipulation member 14 and the rotational speed of the
motor, and more precisely control the rotational speed of the
motor.
[0052] FIG. 4 shows an example of the display unit 7 that displays
the settings of a lever `J2` when the lever `J2` is assigned as the
rotational speed control manipulation member 14. A start position
30 is displayed in a bar showing a movable range of the lever. The
start position indicates the operation amount of the lever at which
the motor starts to rotate by the lever after the start-up
manipulation member 13 has gone from the stop state to the start-up
state.
[0053] A `POS` represents a setting of position information of the
lever. The start position 30 can be determined through the setting
of the `POS`. An `ON/OFF` is set as reverse in FIG. 4, which means
the upper side of the lever is set as ON. A `MODE` indicates a
setting of a case where the lever serves as a switch. In the mode
of `LINEAR`, the lever J2', i.e., the switch becomes ON and OFF
around a set point.
[0054] Further, in the screen of the throttle curve that is
displayed by selecting the `CURVE` 25 of FIG. 3, the rotational
speed of the motor and the operation amount of the rotational speed
control manipulation member 14 can be set by using the setting unit
5. In the example of FIG. 5, one end of the movable range of the
rotational speed control manipulation member 14 is set such that
the rotational speed of the motor is 3%, i.e., the motor is rotated
at a low rotational speed, and the other end thereof is set such
that the rotational speed of the motor is 100%.
[0055] After supplying power to the transmitter 2, when the
operation amount of the rotational speed control manipulation
member 14 is less than the start position while the start-up
manipulation member 13 is in the start-up state, the motor does not
rotate. Once the motor has started to rotate after the operation
amount of the rotational speed control manipulation member 14 is
equal to or greater than the start position, the motor is not
stopped unless the start-up manipulation member 13 returns to a
stop state. When the operation amount of the rotational speed
control manipulation member 14 is less than the start position
again, the motor is rotated at a low rotational speed set in
advance.
[0056] Further, in order to start the rotation of the motor, it is
required for the start-up manipulation member 13 to be in the
start-up state, and for the rotational speed control manipulation
member 14 to be operated such that the operation amount thereof is
equal to or greater than the start position. Accordingly, although
one of the manipulation members is mistakenly operated, it is
possible to prevent the motor from being unexpectedly rotated.
[0057] Further, the rotational speed of the motor being rotated at
a low rotational speed can be set by using a rotational speed
adjustment manipulation member 15. One of the trim switches 5b can
be assigned to the rotational speed adjustment manipulation member
15.
[0058] Next, a flow of driving process of the motor will be
described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing
driving process of the motor.
[0059] First, the control unit 6 determines whether or not a
function of controlling the motor with a plurality of manipulation
members is valid in step S1. If the function of controlling the
motor with a plurality of manipulation members is valid in step S1,
it is determined whether the start-up manipulation member 13 is in
the start-up state in step S2.
[0060] If the start-up manipulation member 13 is in the start-up
state in step S2, the control unit 6 determines whether the
operation amount of the rotational speed control manipulation
member 14 is equal to or greater than the start position in step
S3.
[0061] If the operation amount of the rotational speed control
manipulation member 14 is equal to or greater than the start
position in step S3, a steering signal for controlling the
rotational speed of the motor is generated according to the
operation amount of the rotational speed control manipulation
member 14, and transmitted from the transmitting unit 9 to the
receiving unit 10 of the control target 3 in step S4. Thereafter,
the process returns to step S2 to again check whether or not the
start-up manipulation member 13 is in the start-up state.
[0062] Further, if the function of controlling the motor with a
plurality of manipulation members is invalid in step S1, a steering
signal is generated according to the operation of one manipulation
member for controlling the motor, and transmitted from the
transmitting unit 9 to the receiving unit 10 of the control target
in step S4, as in the conventional control of the control target
using a motor as a power unit. In this case, the one manipulation
member for controlling the motor may be one of the levers 4 and
performs functions of both the start-up manipulation member 13 and
the rotational speed control manipulation member 14. Further, if
the start-up manipulation member 13 is in the stop state in step
S2, the control unit 6 generates a steering signal to stop the
motor, and the steering signal is transmitted from the transmitting
unit 9 to the receiving unit 10 of control target in step S5.
[0063] Further, the operation amount of the rotational speed
control manipulation member 14 is less than the start position in
step S3, the control unit checks whether or not the motor is
rotating in the present in step S6.
[0064] If the motor is rotating in step S6, the control unit 6
generates a steering signal according to the adjustment value of
the rotational speed of the motor that is set in advance, so that
the motor can rotate at a low rotational speed in step S7.
[0065] On the contrary, if the motor is not rotating in step S6, a
steering signal to stop the motor is outputted in step S5.
[0066] According to the embodiment for implementing the present
invention described above, the start-up manipulation member 13 and
the rotational speed control manipulation member 14 may be provided
and in association with them, the motor mounted on the control
target 3 may be controlled.
[0067] In particular, when the operation amount of the rotational
speed control manipulation member 14 is less than the start
position, since the motor does not rotate even if the start-up
manipulation member 13 goes from the stop state to the start-up
state, the motor can be started safely. Also, when the operation
amount of the rotational speed control manipulation member 14 is
less than the start position during the rotation of the motor, by
setting the adjustment value of the rotational speed of the motor
and the operation amount of the rotational speed control
manipulation member 14, it is possible to continue the rotation of
the motor and reproduce an idling state.
[0068] While the invention has been shown and described with
respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled
in the art that various changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
following claims.
* * * * *